References

Pratt Street Power Plant, also known as the Pier Four Power Plant, The Power Plant, or Pratt Street Station, is a historic power plant located at Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Pratt Street Power Plant was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. The Power Plant's tenants have included the first ESPN Zone in the country (opened July 11, 1998; closed June 2010), Hard Rock Cafe (opened July 4, 1997), Barnes & Noble, Gold's Gym (closed early 2010), and loft offices. Maryland Art Place, a contemporary art gallery for Maryland artists, is located in the northwest corner. The popular concert venue Rams Head Live! is also located in the area. It lends its name to the nearby Power Plant Live! nightlife complex. Gold's Gym and ESPN Zone closed in 2010. Cordish also developed the adjacent Pier IV building, whose tenants include Houlihan's, Chipotle Mexican Grill, and Dick's Last Resort (opening June 2010).

The building and history as a power plant It is a 132 by 326 ft (40 by 99 m) complex of three structures located at Pratt Street and Pier 4 at Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. The structures are brick with terra cotta trim and steel frame construction. It was built between 1900 and 1909 and is a massive industrial structure with Neo-Classical detailing designed by the noted architectural firm of Baldwin & Pennington. It served as the main source of power for the United Railways and Electric Company, a consolidation of smaller street railway systems, that influenced the provision of city-wide transportation and opened up suburban areas of Baltimore to power its electric street railway in the city. It later served as a central steam plant for the Consolidated Gas, Electric Light and Power Company, a predecessor of the Baltimore Gas and Electric Company for $4 million. The plant, with obsolescent equipment, was used sparingly until it was returned to service to meet the World War II production demand for electricity.

Post retirement After the electric plant was retired from service, the building was vacant for a time. The building had been the site of many failed development endeavors, most notably an indoor Six Flags theme park (1985-1989) and a short-lived dance club called P.T. Flagg's (1989-1990).